The morning sunlight gently streamed into the hospital room, casting soft shadows as the potted plants in the corner swayed slightly. A quiet serenity filled the air. Zero Two sat quietly at the bedside, gazing tenderly at the sleeping Hiro, her eyes filled with such warmth it was as if she feared waking him.
It wasn’t until the nurse entered to perform a routine check-up that she softly reminded, “He looks great today. We can increase his training a little later.” After recording the data, she left quietly, returning the room to its peaceful stillness.
Hiro slowly opened his eyes, catching sight of Zero Two’s face close beside him. A smile naturally curved his lips. “Morning, Zero Two.”
“Good morning, Darling,” she replied gently, leaning down to adjust his blanket. “You look pretty energetic today.”
“My legs feel stronger than yesterday too. I think I can walk a few more steps.”
With Zero Two’s support, Hiro stood up from the bed, his feet firmly planted on the floor. Though he still relied on a walker, the strength rising from his legs filled him with renewed hope. Today, he didn’t want to just barely stand—he wanted to truly walk, to find his own rhythm again.
He held onto the rail, practicing his balance as Zero Two encouraged him softly from the side, “Every step is amazing, Darling. I know you can do it.”
Sweat slowly trickled down his forehead, and his breathing became heavy, but his eyes shone with determination. He started trying to turn, march in place, even take a step without the walker. Though his body wavered slightly, he was already far steadier than a few days ago.
Zero Two crouched in front of him, arms ready to catch him if he fell. Her smile was both proud and tender. “You’re getting better and better. In a few more days, maybe we can run together.”
Hiro chuckled, “I’m not quite at running level yet… but as long as I’m with you, I don’t mind walking slow.”
They kept practicing all morning, until the sun climbed higher in the sky. The room was filled with the warmth of sweat and laughter—a rhythm of recovery that belonged only to the two of them, step by step.
After finishing rehab practice, they returned to the room for a short rest. Hiro sat on the bed, wiping sweat from his forehead, a satisfied smile on his face. “Feels like I really walked a lot today.”
“Yeah, Darling’s improved so much—I’m so proud of you.” Zero Two poured him a glass of water and handed it over. After he drank it all in one go, she continued, “I’ll go buy lunch soon. What do you feel like eating today?”
Hiro thought for a moment and patted his stomach. “Hmm… Grilled chicken rice, and miso soup. Oh, and today I want to feed myself. Gotta work on my hand coordination—it’s rehab too, right?”
Zero Two immediately frowned. “But Darling, you haven’t fully recovered. What if you spill it? I should feed you.”
Hiro laughed helplessly. “I don’t want to be fed all the time, Zero Two. People will think I’m a kid.”
“Even if you are, I’ll feed you adorably,” she quipped as she lifted his hand and looked at it. “Your hand’s steadier than before, but still… let me feed you, okay?”
“At least… can we do half and half?” Hiro blinked at her, bargaining.
Zero Two looked at his stubborn expression and finally sighed in defeat. “Alright, half you eat, half I feed. But you’re not allowed to eat it all by yourself.”
“Deal.” Hiro nodded with a smile, feeling quietly touched inside. He knew Zero Two was only being persistent because she cared.
Lunchtime came quickly. Zero Two returned with their favorite bento meals. Hiro carefully picked up his first bite. Though his movements were a bit clumsy, he successfully brought it to his mouth. “See? Not bad, right?”
“Mmhmm, barely a pass,” Zero Two teased with a raised brow, scooping a bite of rice and bringing it to his mouth. “This is my half. Make sure to eat it properly.”
The two took turns feeding each other, laughing and exchanging glances. The unspoken understanding and sweetness between them felt like the most tender seasoning to their meal. These simple days—quiet, steady—were the kind that brought peace to the heart.
The afternoon sun shone gently through the curtains of the hospital room, casting a warm light by Hiro’s bedside. The air carried a soft sense of comfort. After lunch and a brief rest, Hiro stood up again with Zero Two’s support, ready to go out for a walk.
“You’re walking even steadier than yesterday, Darling,” Zero Two said with a smile as she pushed the wheelchair beside him.
“That’s because you’ve been encouraging me the whole time, Zero Two.” Hiro smiled back. Though his body still felt heavy, there was a newfound steadiness in his steps.
The two of them made their way to the small garden outside the hospital. The grass was a vibrant green, and the cherry blossom trees were in full bloom. When the breeze blew, petals danced through the air like falling snowflakes. Hiro looked up at the scenery, his eyes filled with peace and joy.
He said slowly, “I used to take all of this for granted… It’s only now that I realize how lucky it is to simply breathe freely, to walk on my own.”
Zero Two stood beside him, looking down at him gently. “Once you’re fully recovered, we can go see even more places—places more beautiful than this, places we’ve never been.”
“Yeah. Let’s go together,” Hiro nodded, gazing at her profile, his tone firm. “No matter where we go, as long as you’re there, I’ll never feel alone.”
They sat together on a bench in the park. There wasn’t much conversation, yet the quiet afternoon was full of warmth and companionship. The wind gently moved their hair and brushed away the lingering shadows of past anxieties. What remained was a deep, reassuring presence.
As evening approached, there was a gentle knock on the hospital room door. Misaki and Kenta entered, carrying their school bags and some notebooks.
“Hiro, how are you feeling today?” Misaki asked with a smile, waving as she stepped in, arms full of papers.
“Much better than yesterday. I even went out for a walk today,” Hiro replied cheerfully, clearly in better spirits.
Kenta pulled over a chair and took out some worksheets from his bag. “We got some science and social studies homework today. We managed to get through a bit, but there are some questions we don’t really get—we figured we’d ask you.”
“Already stuck on the first day, huh? Tough life.” Hiro joked as he took the notebooks.
“Why don’t you try answering and see if you still remember any of the lessons?” Kenta grinned, raising an eyebrow.
Hiro chuckled awkwardly. “My brain’s been focused on rehab lately. Don’t expect neat answers.”
At that moment, Zero Two came over with cups of water for everyone and sat down beside Hiro. With her usual confidence, she said, “No matter what the subject is, Darling can learn it. And if he forgets, I can teach him.”
“You know science and social studies too?” Misaki asked curiously.
“Of course! I’ve got a great memory,” she declared, puffing up proudly. Her confidence made everyone laugh.
The four of them gathered around the small table by the bed, solving problems and discussing answers. The atmosphere was lively and warm, making the hospital room feel more like a cozy classroom corner.
“This one should be oceanic climate, right?” Hiro asked as he looked over a question, pen in hand.
“I wrote tropical monsoon…” Kenta muttered, drawing a round of laughter.
Laughter echoed in the room, mingling with the golden hues of the setting sun streaming through the window, adding a gentle glow to an otherwise ordinary day.
As dusk fell, the doctor entered with a stack of papers and a test report in hand. He glanced around the room with a smile. “Looks like everyone’s in good spirits today.”
Hiro straightened up as Zero Two gently adjusted his blanket. The doctor walked over to the bed, flipping through the report. In a warm tone, he said, “Hiro’s recovery is progressing very well. If tomorrow’s basic tests go smoothly, we can start preparing for discharge. You’ll likely be able to go home the day after tomorrow.”
“Really?” Hiro’s eyes widened with surprise and excitement.
“Yes, but there are still things to be mindful of,” the doctor added, listing post-discharge instructions: continuing rehab, regular checkups, proper diet and sleep. “No strenuous activity in the first few days. Avoid long walks. Most importantly, follow the instructions and get plenty of rest.”
Zero Two nodded seriously, seemingly even more attentive than Hiro.
After finishing his explanations, the doctor said goodbye and left. The room grew quiet once more, bathed in the soft, golden light of early evening.
After dinner, their classmates headed home, leaving only Hiro and Zero Two in the room. The two of them sat side by side on the bed. Outside, the first stars appeared, and a gentle peace settled over the room like a blanket.
“Darling, you’re finally about to be discharged,” Zero Two said softly, her gaze still on the night sky beyond the window.
“Yeah… I didn’t think it would be this soon,” Hiro replied, his voice holding a hint of relief. “You’ve really done a lot for me, Zero Two.”
“It wasn’t hard. I just stayed by your side, like always.” She turned to him, that familiar, playful expression on her face. “Remember what we promised? That we’d go see the world together?”
Hiro nodded, taking her hand. “I remember. I’ll take you with me. I haven’t forgotten, and I never will.”
Zero Two leaned into his arms, whispering, “No matter what the future holds, even if we’re separated again, I’ll always find you… So Darling, you have to find me too.”
Hiro held her gently and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I will, Zero Two. No matter how many times it takes, I’ll find you.”
Outside the window, a soft breeze stirred the night. Their quiet laughter echoed through the room as time seemed to pause, leaving behind only the warmth of their shared promise.
To be continued…
